Nutrition Facts

There is no clearly known deficiency disorder of vitamin E. But there is also no doubt that humans need tocopherol or vitamin E in his diet. The deficiency of vitamin E is seen only after resection of small intestine and in prolonged malabsorptive diseases, like celiac disease. There is also a very rare familial form of vitamin E deficiency disease, which is due to defect in  alpha tocopherol transport protein.

Children may develop vitamin E deficiency due to prolonged cholestasis (stasis of bile) or cystic fibrosis of long duration and this is characterized by hemolytic anemia and areflexia. If children suffer from abetalipoproteinemia, they develop vitamin E deficiency very rapidly as they can not absorb or transport vitamin E.

Symptoms of Vitamin E Deficiency:

Vitamin E deficiency causes degeneration of large myelinated axons. Peripheral neuropathy is also a major sign which is characterized by at first areflexia that progresses to ataxic gait and decrease in position and vibration sensation. Pigmented retinopathy, ophthalmoplegia and skeletal myopathy are some other symptoms of vitamin E deficiency. Deficiency of vitamin E increases virulence of viral infection due to increase in viral mutation.

Diagnosis of Vitamin E Deficiency:

Laboratory diagnosis of vitamin E deficiency is done by measuring the blood levels of alpha tocopherols. Vitamin E deficiency is if the level of alpha tocopherol is less than 5µgm/ml or alpha tocopherol is less than 0.8 mg per gram of total lipids.

Vitamin E Toxicity:

High dose of vitamin E (more than 800 mg per day) daily can cause vitamin E toxicity. All forms of vitamin E can cause toxicity. High dose of vitamin E can interfere with vitamin K metabolism and high dose is contraindicated if a patient is taking anticoagulant like warfarin. The symptoms of vitamin E toxicity are diarrhea, nausea, flatulence etc. if the daily intake is more than 1 gram.

Treatment of Vitamin E Deficiency:

Treatment of vitamin E deficiency depends on the severity and type of deficiency. Moderate deficiency with symptoms can be treated with 800-1200 mg of alpha tocopherol per day (RDA is about 15 mg per day). If deficiency is due to abetalipoproteinemia, than as much as 5000-7000 mg per day may be required. Children with symptomatic vitamin E deficiency can be treated with 400 mg/day of water-miscible (which can be mixed with water by adding an emulsifying agent) esters.

Vitamin E is the name of a group of closely related compounds that occurs in nature as fat soluble compounds called “tocopherols” and “tocotrienols”. Out of all the tocopherols, the alpha tocopherol is the most active and potent.

Sources of Vitamin E:

Vitamin E is widely distributed in nature, both in plant sources as well as animal sources. The rich plant sources of vitamin E are vegetable oils (tocopherols are present in sunflower oil, cotton seed oil, safflower oil, wheat germ oil etc. and gamma tocotrienols are present in corn oil and Soya bean oil etc.), nuts, cereals and foods that are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. Fruits and vegetables contain small amount of vitamin E. Rich animal source of vitamin D includes meat, egg (mainly egg yolk), butter, milk etc.

Daily Requirement of Vitamin E:

Daily recommended dose of vitamin E or RDA (recommended daily allowance) is dependent on the amount of essential fatty acids we consume. The more essential fatty acid consumption the more is the requirement of vitamin E. But the requirement is about 0.8mg/gram of essential fatty acid consumption. RDA is 15 mg/ day and the requirement is higher if more polyunsaturated fat is consumed.

Functions of vitamin E:

Vitamin E acts as a chain breaking antioxidant and is efficient in removing the chemicals that protects low density lipoproteins (LDLs) and polyunsaturated fats in membranes from oxidation. Other antioxidants like vitamin C helps to keep vitamin E in remaining reduced state. Vitamin E also inhibits synthesis of prostaglandins.

Other Advantages of Vitamin E:

There are many other advantages of vitamin E, but these advantages can not be proved strongly. Vitamin E at high dose may prevent retrolental fibroplasia (opacity of cornea in premature infants due to administration of pure 100% oxygen after delivery or birth), bronchopulmonary dysplasia and intraventricular hemorrhage of premature infants. Vitamin E is supposed to have aphrodisiac effect and also increase sexual performance. Vitamin E is also used in treatment of slowing aging process and intermittent claudication. High doses (60–800 mg/d) of vitamin E have been shown to improve immune function and to reduce colds in nursing home residents. When vitamin E is combined with other antioxidants, it can prevent macular degeneration of eye.

Acne is a very common problem during adolescence and teenage life. But acne can occur at any age and at any area of skin where hair follicles are present. Acne treatment may be very difficult if not done properly.
For the correct treatment you should have basic knowledge about acne. Acne is basically an inflammation of pilosebaceous glands, which are present beneath the skin surface. The inflammation of these glands may be due to infection by bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes. The inflammation may also be due to blockade of the pilosebaceous duct (which opens on the surface of skin and originate in the pilosebaceous gland) with dust or due to excess production of sebum (sebum is produced by pilosebaceous glands and keeps our skin wet and oily).

Acne can be treated at home all by yourself and also you can get the service of a skin doctor. If you have to treat acne properly the main aim of the acne treatment should be prevention of inflammation of pilosebaceous glands. To get the right picture you should know your skin type (skin may be oily, dry or in between dry and oily; non dry and non oily skin type is best and nave very little incidences of acne), factors that improve or worsen the pimples or acne, diet, if you are using any medication that may increase the incidence or severity of acne. If you get the service of a skin doctor you need not to worry, your doctor will take care of everything and they are expert in that.

There are many acne treatment formula that are available in the market as well as online treatment solution (can be purchased online). But while buying acne treatment creams, solutions, lotions etc. you have to be very careful and should stick to the quality and reputed companies only.